Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1887-01-21
Kit Carson's Wild Ride.

AlU OCtl pUll . w 1lU lVIuO.
Did | know Kit Carson?n repeated
that veteran pioneer, Mr. w. NJ. Boggs
of Napa, to a question concerning the
famous plainsman and guide. "Well,
slightly, Ircckon. Iwintered and sum-
mcrcd with him and Nick Gentry in the
old trading days of '46 and AZ the
mes, you know, Of the overland trade
on the Santa f. road, between St. Louis
and New NJ x.co. 1t took five or six
months to MAKE the trip by wagon and
team over the Cimarron ute, as it was
called. Nick Gentry when l was with
him in 1874 pointed out to me many
places where bloody encounters had
taken place between the white traders
and the sneaking and bloodthirsty
Pawnees, Kiowas, Comanches, and
Apaches."
"BIt about Carson. What sort Of a
man was the old guide and trapper2'
"Ie had many In liam characteristics,
owing to the fact that his life had b,en
largely spent among the sayages. lie
was retiring, modest to degree among
his white fellows, resisted any attempt to
bring him into notice, and was abashed
and even irritable when he perceived
disposition to lionize him. He felt i'll
at case among white men, but ..l.,...
among the Indians had no such feeling.
Carson spoke sowly and as one having
authority. His judgment in all diff
fculties occurring on march or questions
arising in council was never questioned.
His habits were simple, his fair plain.
have known him go for days without
fool, and at the same time feel no great
inconvenience. A handful of dried
buffalo meat, or a little parched corn,
which he carried in sort Of pouch be-
hind his saddle, was his only rations for
weeks sometimes. lie was temperate,
too, and seldom, if ever, INDUCED in
strong drink. Carson was a loosly-built
man, of small stature, and did not weigh
over 16o pounds Simple habits of life
bad become sccon1 nature to himself and
his associates on the plains. The
luXurics of life anl tine confinement OF
towns, when they happened in the white
settlements, soon plicd on them, and in
little while they went off to Their
hunting-grounI., the simple fare of the
praire, and the pure wa er of the
mountain streams. Yes" continued
Mr.. Bogss, Carson was a mode
/ plainsman. lie was cautious in all his
movements on the march, but daring in
times Of emergency quick to perceive
any advantage to be taken, whether
over the willy savage or in combating the
clements. Its unnecessary to speak Of
his bravery, Fremonts experiences bear
testimony to that. He ren lercd valuable
service to the United States government
during the Mexican war, and after he
had quit Fremont, was guide and scout
for old Gen. Stephen W. Kearny. II.
was in the hard fght at san Paschal,
where Kearny was defeated by Andres
Pico."
"What were the circumstances attend
ing Carson's death"
1T was caused by an accident. He
broke an artery by falling from his niue,
and breathed his last at my brothcr's
residence, on the Los Animas, not far
from the site of old Fort Bent, where
the two had passed many happy days
and passed through many exciting
scenes of frontier life.
eyes, yes" said Mr.. Boggs, slowly
and in lower voice, as if communing
with himself, "the Rocky Mountain he
roes have all passed away; Carson, Sub
lette, Walker. Williams, Greenwood,
Black Hrrris, Peg Leg Smth-all gone
to the happy hunting grounds"
Recovering himself the gentleman con-
tinued:
Speaking of Carson's bravery, let me
relate an incident that will illustrate his
courage 1t was most horrible and
distressing one, and took place on the
Santa Fe Road, near the Cmarron
mountains, in 1916 A merchant trader
named James White, from Independence,
Mo-, with his wife, servant and child
was captured, together, with his mer-
chandise train, by the Comanches, who
after the Apaches, are the most cruel of
all the North American Indian tribes.
White and all his men were Immediately
tomahawked and scalped, and the
women and Guild carried off prisoners.
News Of this affair reached the New
Mexican settlement, where Kit Carson
happened 70 be Che lived near Taos in
New Mexico), and he Immediately start
ed, joining party of United States
Dragons, in pursuit of the murderous